Anthony Pettis has a new high-profile sponsor. | Dave
Mandel/Sherdog.com

Anthony
Pettis has been sidelined from fighting since capturing the UFC
lightweight crown last August, but that hasn’t prevented his
blue-chip sponsorship portfolio from expanding.

On Tuesday,
Reebok announced a partnership with Pettis, whom the company
will use to promote its new ZJet running shoe. Pettis joins UFC
welterweight champion Johny
Hendricks and former UFC lightweight ruler Quinton
Jackson as mixed martial artists to sign deals with the
athletic footwear and apparel company. Terms of the deal were not
revealed.

“As a leading fitness brand, Reebok is very excited to team up with
UFC lightweight champion Anthony Pettis. MMA fighters are some of
the fittest athletes in the world, and Anthony takes training to a
whole new level,” said John Lynch, Reebok’s Global Vice President
of Fitness Marketing, in a release. “For our newest running shoe,
ZJet, Reebok wanted to partner with an athlete who had explosive
speed, and bold, confident style. With his lightning fast kicks,
quick double leg takedowns, and flashy fighting technique, we knew
Anthony would be the perfect fit.”

The news of the Reebok deal comes approximately one week after
Pettis revealed he had received a Wheaties sponsorship. More
details regarding that agreement also came to light on Tuesday.

According to a release, “Showtime” is among five athletes competing
in the Wheaties Next Challenge to be featured on an upcoming
Wheaties box in early 2015. Those who want to participate in voting
can visit MapMyFitness.com,
select an athlete and begin logging their workouts through the
site’s various apps. The athlete with the “most votes via workouts
logged” will grace the cereal box next year.

“Throughout history, the front of the Wheaties box has chronicled
the greatest achievements in sports,” David Oehler, marketing
manager for Wheaties, stated in a release. “The athletes competing
in Wheaties NEXT are dominating in their respective sports while
displaying the passion and character that embodies a Wheaties box
athlete. We are thrilled to bring this competition to life with
MapMyFitness and get communities across America moving this
summer.”

Pettis is expected to defend his 155-pound belt against Gilbert
Melendez near the end of the year following their coaching
stints on “The Ultimate Fighter 20.”

Conor McGregor will have plenty on his plate against Jose Aldo in July. But another fight on his mind is one against another champion: Anthony Pettis. The rising UFC featherweight says that moving up read news >>

The UFC has continued to join the mainstream sports industry through a number of large-scale moves. Its recent partnership with Reebok has created special sponsorship deals for key fighters on its ro read news >>